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Synonyms

sunlight

American  
[suhn-lahyt] / ˈsʌnˌlaɪt /

noun

  1. the light of the sun; sunshine.

sunlight British  
/ ˈsʌnlaɪt /

noun

  1. the light emanating from the sun

  2. an area or the time characterized by sunshine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • sunlit adjective

Etymology

Origin of sunlight

First recorded in 1175–1225, sunlight is from the Middle English word sonneliht. See sun, light 1

Vocabulary lists containing sunlight

The Sun – Introductory

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Well, yes, but Overview’s satellites essentially gather sunlight in geosynchronous orbit and beam it down as near-infrared light External link to existing solar projects.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

The company plans to operate satellites that can continuously collect sunlight and transmit it at low-intensity wavelengths to solar facilities on Earth, which convert it to electricity.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

Their chemical signatures reveal when the surface was last exposed to sunlight, helping pinpoint past periods when the ice sheet disappeared.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

The glass is screened by adjustable curtains of a high-tech fabric that diffuses and softens the sunlight, making it ideal for viewing the three-dimensional art displayed there.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

A few mornings later, sunlight streamed in through the window and onto Brightbill.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.